While Sid Meier's Civilization is primarily a turn-based strategy series, Firaxis has also played around with other genres over the years. Specifically, Sid Meier's Civilization 6 saw Firaxis redefine what it means to be a Civ game by introducing a battle royale mode, a pirate management sim, and even a zombie defense mode. All these additions brought Sid Meier's Civilization far from its core, but also served as a fantastic change of pace for the franchise. Sid Meier's Civilization 7 is Firaxis' chance to take it a step further, and it should start by adding a roguelike mode to the mix.
Roguelikes are popular right now thanks to acclaimed indie titles like Hades, Slay the Spire, and The Binding of Isaac. Players have been sucked in by the genre's exhilarating fast-paced action and addictive gameplay loop. There seems to be no end in sight for indie roguelikes, and Firaxis should really capitalize on that popularity. While the Sid Meier's Civilization series may not be the most obvious choice for a roguelike mode, it could lead to one of the most unique entries in the genre.
Civilization 7's Roguelike Would be a Fantastic Treat
The Civilization series has stayed relatively consistent since its inception, and the studio has seldom messed around with the core turn-based strategy loop. While it has expanded upon various aspects and introduced new mechanics, that core loop has stayed the same. Players choose a historical leader, settle some cities, research some technologies, and try to claim one of the many Civilization victories. It is a satisfying loop that has helped cement the series as one of the biggest strategy franchises out there, but the studio is also not opposed to branching out a bit.
Sid Meier's Civilization 6 saw the biggest departure from the core gameplay loop with the introduction of the Red Death mode. This mode saw the Civilization franchise put its own spin on the battle royale genre, and it mostly paid off. The gameplay was unique, and the mode shared almost no similarities to the main game. While it was not the greatest addition to Civilization 6, it did show that Firaxis was willing to experiment with that core Civilization experience.
Adding an alternate roguelike mode to the mix seems like the perfect next step for Firaxis' experimentation. Permadeath already plays a part in Civilization - the entire world is constructed on a grid, the game is built around procedurally generated worlds, and many roguelikes have adopted turn-based gameplay. While the focus of roguelikes may be on dungeon crawling or killing monsters, it feels like Civilization is already sitting on important elements of the genre. With a bit of effort, Firaxis could give players a brand-new exciting adventure to embark on.
The biggest thing holding back Civilization from being a roguelike is the civilization management feature that forms the backbone of the entire franchise. Playing God is not an aspect of the roguelike genre, so Firaxis would have to figure out some alternative to that. The Red Death mode stripped out most of those mechanics and replaced them with battle royale-centric, and there is nothing stopping the studio from doing that again. Give players control over a select few units, have them explore a procedurally generated world, let them slowly increase their strength, and give them a reason to keep coming back for more.
While Firaxis should focus on making the core Sid Meier's Civilization 7 experience as good as it can be, it should also leave some room for alternative game modes like a roguelike. These modes help give the game more life by giving players more ways to interact with their favorite strategy series. More options are always a good thing, and unique options make it even better.
Sid Meier's Civilization 7 is currently in development